Oh boy are you opening a can of worms.  You may not mean to denegrate this city but this blog certainly will.  This will give all the nay sayers a great forum to trash us...again.

Put on your boxing gloves folks..however you feel, the fight is about to begin.

First, Bakersfield's self-loathing has never risen to the same level as Fresno's.  I was there about 12 years ago and saw a guy wearing a t-shirt with a mushroom cloud on it that said "Nuke Fresno".  That's self-loathing.  Everywhere I've been, there have been grass is greener types.  When I managed buildings in San Francisco, a quarter of the people who left were moving to New York.  A quarter of our tenants were coming from New York.  I love Bakersfield.  There's stuff I'd like to change, but I see it as my responsibility to make that change.  If a place I like opens, I actually go there.

Mostly, the whiners are people who would whine no matter where they were anyway.

From your previous posts I gather you grew up in Bakersfield and are proud of it.  What do you like about Bakersfield?  Without resorting to name calling, how would you respond to those who don't like the city?  Are the perceptions just wrong?

I've lived here all my life and while there are things that need improvement, there are so many things to like, or love, about it.  The location for one.  We're within two hours of any terrain, or body of water you could possibly want.  We're within two hours of any "cultural" event, or major sporting event you could want.  The difference is, you don't have to live in the traffic and the crush of people to utilize them.

From here, you can water ski, snow ski, rock climb, rock hunt, be a desert rat, SEE a desert rat.  There are just so many possibilities it's hard to list them all.  People say we're boring, no history.  That's because they don't look.  We have a great library with a sealed room where you can find all kinds of historical articles.  The oil industry is a fascinating subject for many of us.  This area produces an unbelievable amount of the food that supplies our nation.  

When I see people on here or listen to people talk about the limited shopping...for crying out loud, how many clothes can you wear?  How much shopping do you do?  If it's such a big issues..there's that great metropolis just over the hill.  How many restaurants can you patronize in a month?  How many do you need?  How many can this city support?

The thing that gets me is that we have so many folks moving to this area who complain about this and complain about that, but they left all "this and that" to move here.  Now they want to drag it all in behind them and turn this place into what they escaped.
Great example would be what the influx did to the housing market here.

We have problems with the city leaders but what city doesn't?  We have corrupt politicians and ineffective ones, but what city doesn't?
Like Tom said....it's up to us to try to improve that, not just sit around and complain.  We have a terrible highway system but what we also have is the NIMBY syndrome.  Everyone wants it but no one want's to have it near them.  Including the newcomers.  I think that's pretty normal.

We can't get past the "okie" image here but how many people are actually descended from "okies" these days?
How many actually have oil in their blood?

One thing I really get tired of is the snobbish attitude toward education here.  Like calculus is different at Harvard than it is at CSUB.  We have a good university.  It has it's limits too but is growing all the time.  If isn't good enough right now, then there's always USC..if you can afford it.  UCLA is also just over the hill.  We aren't that far from major universities that offer whatever it is that you feel you need.

We have places to go and interesting things to see, but people will never know that if they just sit in their armchair, or in front of a computer instead of getting off their duffs and looking for the good.  

It's easy to mock a city.  It's easy to bash one.  But for a change, try looking at the positives instead of harping on the negatives.  You might find it isn't such a bad place to live after all.

The armpit that Bakersfield is was quite an improvement over our previous body part area, Los Angeles, so we were quite happy during our eight years in town. We always said we moved to Bakersfield for the air...

Covered parking at the fairgrounds?  Do they have that elsewhere?  As for big acts..Bakersfield historically has not supported the concert venue in any big way.  I certainly don't know why, since they will go to Paso Robles or to LA for all kinds of concerts, but it seems to be a fact. 

I disagree, Nancy.  The few big concerts that have come to Bakersfield in the past 20 years have sold out instantly, starting with Wille Nelson and Waylon Jennings back in 1984.  There were somewhere close to 15,000 at the fairgrounds to see that concert.  The Eagles, Elton John, Neil Diamond all sold out the Rob A Bank, even before it was known by that Classic Bad Name.  The problem has been promoters who fail to recognize the inevitable profitability of bringing BIG acts to Bako, in spite of the empirical evidence that justify making Smog town a tour stop.  

Don't know who you were referring to Schuster, but yeah, I grew up on 5th street when that was the southwest part of town.  It's got culture and history and diversity as well.  I guess the big problem people have with Bakersfield is that there is little way to show you're part of an elite crowd.  There are no restarants that only the hoi palloi can afford.  There's no place to be seen.  Of course, a few of us could get together and start fleecing people, but then they'd complain about that too.
I think what these people hate is that Bakersfield is basically small d democratic and most of the people here aren't impressed by affectations that many people have spent their whole lives cultivating.

Jeff..you could be right.  All I know is that I've read over and over about concerts being cancelled here.  Sometimes the reason cited is poor ticket sales and others because the artist had the sniffles.  

I'm not a concert "goer" so it's not an issue with me.  Where music is concerned, I kind of like to listen to it and not be assaulted with it.

Having said that, all I have to go on is that, as far as the fairgrounds goes, it got way too pricey by the time you paid parking, fair admission and then the concert admission.  I always felt they'd do better if they worked up a packaged deal.

WhooHooo Tom.  THANK YOU !!!   hehehehe..I love it.

How any times does Bakersfield, the "goodfella of creation"  have to be discussed? Has it changed, of course not, because that's  the way it and that is the way it is going to be, you agree with me don't you , of course you do!

Now get over it this only Bakersfield where the spectacular cultural event of the year is an opening of a Costco or Sam's Club. Where the exciting most memorable evnt of the year is the drowning of an "alien" in elitists heaven's  new park.

Did I miss an opening of Costco???  Geeezz..I can't believe that !!!  Thanks Neo..now you've ruined my day.

I was raised in Bakersfield (moved here from the Bay Area) and only left because of my Military Service. The only reason I haven't moved back is that there is not any work in my field of expertise. When I grew up we use to cruise Chester and have fun looking at cars and the girls. Never got into trouble and never heard of anyone getting into trouble. Bakersfield is a great place. Sometimes you need to go out and find your fun or make it yourself. I wish they would bring back cruising on Chester at least one night a month during the summer. Bakersfield is what you make of it. 


Cheers

Bob T.
Santee, Calif

who are kidding NancyII, you are the one at the front of the line wrapped up in a blanket all night everytime, you never miss anything...your nose is too long fo that.

I read about concerts being cancelled a lot too. Smashmouth was supposed to play at the fair the other day and cancelled.
Wait, they actually did us a favor.

Shaded parking with solar panels as the covering. What a brilliant idea! When do we start the construction here?

I've recently heard from a fairly reliable source that Sam's Club will be building a new warehouse store on Rosedale Highway and Renfro, where the cotton gin used to be.  I suppose this will be convenient for the people in Shafter, Wasco, Buttonwillow and Taft, but it will certainly increase traffic flow on Rosedale Highway.  At one time I thought the people raising hell about these new warehouse stores just had an ax to grind, but honestly, how many do we need?  And how much more traffic can Rosedale Highway handle before it becomes a parking lot?  Olive Drive is already overburdened with overflow as is Truxtun Extension and Stockdale Highway.  There's already a Costco on Rosedale, now a Smart and Final is going in, with a Sam's Club, it makes you wonder whose pockets are getting lined.  It won't be long before people begin their exodus from the Greenacres/Rosedale area and head to the beautiful Northeast area.  I know I'm considering it.

Pete, the City is questioning the policy requiring trees because 60,000 trees may have the pollution output equal to a single car. What makes you think solar panels are even in play here? If somebody suggested that, the fossil fuel companies based here would sharpen up their character assassination tools and get medievil on their asses....

You need at least three more, why and another two Wal-Marts, now that the City owns Rosedale Highway, you should get fast action on your complaints, and David Couch is the best at getting "free"projects for his Ward.

Sorry the City just bought it from Caltrans...like it or not...the City now owns it....Rosedale will soon be designated business 58 only.

I agree shaded parking would be wonderful.  But you're talking about the state capitol, not a barely 300K sized city.

I do agree about some of the logic the planners have shown.  The water facility, in my eyes, was a mistake.  The new park was a good idea I suppose, it's really pretty.  But it seems it's going to be causing a lot of problems, maybe more than it's worth.

My opinion is that we should stop trying to force this city to be something it's not equipped for.  You mention the low income median and then talk about covered parking at the fairgrounds.   Tearing out the fairgrounds to build housing?  Somehow I can't see that happening in that particular area.   If you think it's difficult to bring back downtown, how difficult do you think it would be to bring that area up the the standards expected by some of the elite?

Funny, I have some memories of the fairgrounds when it was by the ballpark and when they moved it out on Ming that was a pretty bustling area.  It was on the main highway after all.  99 then bypassed the city and the city grew to it and beyond.  Now it's in the middle...again.   Things change, bounderies change, but it takes a lot of time to reclaim blighted areas.  If it can be done at all.

We have problems, no one is disputing that.  The question is, what do you think of Bakersfield?  What can be done to make it better?  Or can anything reasonably be done?   I guess if I had my druthers I'd druther it was like it was back with 55,000 population when the elite were the Haberfelds and the Barbers and the Tognini's and the ones who came before them.  People who helped build the businesses and develop the city.  People who loved the area and saw promise in it.
People who were hard working and weren't ashamed of their heritage even though they didn't wear white collars.
People who weren't snobs oh so anxious to tear down everything that they didn't agree with.

Sometimes progress isn't really progress at all.  And that's sad.

Yup, gubermint can't  even keep up a freaking fair grounds, yet liberals want the gubermint to provide all our medical care.

No friggen thank you.

  I like it here. The air is the only real problem I have with our fair city, but that is more a problem intensified by geography than local pollutants. I agree that Fresno is a much smellier armpit! I work up there an awful lot and I feel the place has no redeeming qualities, although it does have a great freeway systen to move you to each end of the city, something Bakersfield is sorely lacking. I also agree that most of the whiners are just whiners. I am sure their blathering about the city is just the tip of the iceberg where their complaints are concerned. We DO get big name concerts here depending on your definition of "big names". I have tickets to Merle Haggard next month and the Crystal Palace has hosted some of the biggest names. You just have to stand in line to ensure you get a ticket. Some of the biggest names in alternative music have graced the stage of the Garden(Greenday, KORN), and the Fox has hosted many of the great Classic Rock bands(Steve Miller, Sammy Hagar). I know people who drive from Merced to go the Fair here, but won't go to the Fresno fair. Lake Ming has hosted the Drag Boats ever since I can remember and Famoso hosts the Chevy Natiols, The Harley Davidson National and the Classic Hotrod National. The soccer complex near Hart Park is an enormous success and Rabobank paid a wad of cash to put their name on the building that hosts The Condors, the PBR, Ringling Bros Circus and many other events. I have a friend who lived in Lake Arrowhead and had bought into the country bumpkin mentality of the city until she actually visited and spent some time here. She was impressed and enjoyed visiting after that. Like some of you pointed out; it is not a perfect place, but show me one anywhere else.

Right on, Mark! Bakersfield is like my ond favorite pair of boots. Maybe they're not as pretty as someone's new pair, but they sure fit well, and I like wearing them. ;-)

You Bako residents who like to say we are better than "insert other central valley city" crack me up. Fresno, a city twice our size, has so much more going for it, and anyone with two eyeballs can see that clearly (or is the smog at this end of the valley blocking your view north?). I've been to their new Staples Center-like arena to see Madonna and The Rolling Stones. I ate out at great upscale restaurants while there and also enjoyed some good shopping at stores like Pottery Barn, Sephora, and Nordstrom. These things coupled with their AAA downtown stadium - We should try and go the upward direction Fresno is going instead of pretending we are somehow better. 

Or are we too bitter about the fact that, like LA, they drop their sludge here?

hmmmm...What do I think of Bakersfield?  I am sure you already got an earful from me on another blog.  So, I'll kindly and gently layout my thoughts about this so call city of Bako:

     *   Lack of high paying jobs
     *   Uneducated work force
     *   Inadequate malls...Valley Plaza & East Hills mall are gang hangout
     *   Lack of upscale shops
     *   Close minded thinking
     *   Lack of culture (museums, art gallery, etc.)
     *   Lack of entertainment (clubs, theme parks, strip joints, etc.)
     *   Poor freeways landscaping

Let me expand on my points above.  First of all, this city needs to be more open minded to other cultures, ethnicities, religion, and to gays & lesibians.  Another thing, the work force needs to be educated in order to attract corporations and higher paying jobs.  Furthermore, upscale shops should be setup (Nordstrom, Saks 5th, etc.) .  The malls here are terrible to say the least, who wants to shop there.  When you go there all you hear are cars going by blasting mexican or rap music, it must be an upscale swap meet.  Where is the culture and entertainment here in this city?  There's no decent club, museums, art gallery, theme parks, or even strip joints.  It took over a year for another strip joint to be setup, that's close mindedness for you there.  Lastly, look at freeway 99 & 58.  The freeways look like streets from white-trash oildale, where all there are are trash & garbage litered along the road side.

I have been here 3.5  years. The gangs scare me....I see them branching out, tagging where there was none a year ago, scary people at the Valley Plaza, can't go shopping alone there any more. I see the city growing too fast. It's amazing the difference three years has made even to my non-native eyes. BUT. What I love about this place is the history. The more I learn, the more I want to learn. I wish there were more resources and more ways to get at information about the city's growth and development. There are classic buildings downtown that us "newbies" don't even know about. There are wonderful neighborhoods and parrots flying around parks and all sorts of other cool stuff. I also like Bakersfield's proximity to the coast and to LA. I don't see myself staying here forever, but I'm going to stay for awhile.

Don't let the gangs scare you  as they present no danger, according to the Bakersfield City Council. They have millions for weathy area venues, parks, Sports complexes , Useless Swim arenas and soo a ball park, for these high gang areas', what else police, police, police.

Nothing for kids to do aexcept hang out and get profiled. Tax dollars take care of the greedy and god takes care of the needy. Even now the City and the police and god are on a paupers crusade to combat gangs. not to eliminate the causes, just to combat them...it is good business for police programs. And they will do all this combating with a passel of God people, a gang of police and special police agencies, a few poiticians who want to stay in office and 2 dollars from the City for coffee.